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Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

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Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#381

Post by burntalmonds »

diggan wrote: post #152
mindcrime wrote: post #26

The truth is, if you ask me this 100 times, you'll probably get 100 different answers, because it's impossible to really pick just one (well two, separating by fiction/non-fiction). But for today I'll go with: Fiction: Neuromancer Non-fiction: The Selfish Gene

> Fiction: Neuromancer I've tried twice to read this, but it looses me about 10% in for some reason. Is it worth continuing past that? Does it get "better"? Or does that just signal that the whole book isn't for me?

It's been a long time since I read it, but it definitely gets better.

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#382

Post by [deleted] »

dmitrygr wrote: post #237
cactacea wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "The best book I've ever read was Atlas Shrugged in 8th grade. Changed my life." "huh, ok" > Really, I'm just looking for people who won't jump down my throat on a faux pas. I think you're dismissing the people such as myself that would note you as an idiot without comment and move on wanting nothing to do with you. Edit: tests and trick questions with people you just met is an ineffective way to navigate the world…

> I think you're dismissing the people such as myself that would note you as an idiot without comment and move on wanting nothing to do with you. Not OP. But I would say the filter is working. If you would treat somebody like an idiot for liking a book you don’t like, I indeed, would want you filtered out of my circle of friends.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#384

Post by llamaimperative »

etiam wrote: post #174
llamaimperative wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What similar books are there to The Selfish Gene? I read it not too long ago and found it astonishing. People are generally enthralled by Sapiens which is just a very mediocre extension + shallow interpretation of Dawkins’ thesis.

Probably too similar, but do follow up with "The Extended Phenotype" if you haven't already.

I have been meaning to come back to this since reading Selfish Gene, but haven't gotten to it! I suppose I should :)

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#385

Post by scovetta »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #362

These threads often end up, with everyone trying to prove they are literary scholars. I prefer junky fantasy books. I'm really too old and cynical to give a damn what y'all think of me. I probably liked David Edding's Belgariad series, along with the Mallorean series, the most. I reread them, regularly, and go through all ten books, in a couple of weeks. They are an easy read. Also, Glen Cook's Black Company books ar…

David Eddings' books are also my favorite of all time, agree about Belgariad and Mallorean. That reminds me that I should start them again. Thanks for bringing back a great memory!

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#387

Post by jachee »

d1str0 wrote: post #292
soufron wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Man, what an ass way of choosing your friends... I doubt it's optimal.

I think you just proved his point. This response is clearly quite aggressive and over the top and thus falls in the camp of being unlikely friends vs. someone who takes a more cordial approach.

Cordial or not, I certainly wouldn’t want to be friends with someone sociopathically “testing” me like that. It’s literal anti-social behavior.

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#388

Post by will-burner »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #362

These threads often end up, with everyone trying to prove they are literary scholars. I prefer junky fantasy books. I'm really too old and cynical to give a damn what y'all think of me. I probably liked David Edding's Belgariad series, along with the Mallorean series, the most. I reread them, regularly, and go through all ten books, in a couple of weeks. They are an easy read. Also, Glen Cook's Black Company books ar…

A great fantasy book is "The Fifth Season" by N. K. Jemisin. The whole broken earth trilogy by Jemisin is amazing. Here's to fantasy books!

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#389

Post by loufe »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #362

These threads often end up, with everyone trying to prove they are literary scholars. I prefer junky fantasy books. I'm really too old and cynical to give a damn what y'all think of me. I probably liked David Edding's Belgariad series, along with the Mallorean series, the most. I reread them, regularly, and go through all ten books, in a couple of weeks. They are an easy read. Also, Glen Cook's Black Company books ar…

I second the Black Company. I recently turned some friends onto it and got back in as a consequence. It was such a great twist on how a dark fantasy reads. Totally agree for Garret PI.

I'll have to add my other fantasy favourites : The Kingkiller Chronicles (though be prepared to be left hanging) and the Stormlight Archives are truly excellent.

Re: Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read?

#390

Post by toast0 »

DurtEetr wrote: post #355
toast0 wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I liked the parts about the railway signaling, and suffered through all the multi-page anti-regulatory rants in the middle of lovemaking. Looking for recommendations for entertaining tales of signal networks. :P

Going Postal by Terry Pratchett has my favorite entertaining read about signaling networks. In addition to the invention of a working mail system, you’ll read descriptions of semaphore towers working in a way that is similar to the Telegraph, except with light rather than pulsed waves over wire. It’s also hilariously funny and deeply philosophical at times. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Thanks! From the blurb, this looks perfect, and I've been meaning to read some Terry Pratchett. I really enjoyed being a substitute postal worker in Yoku's Island Express.
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